Hello, I am Hannah Garrison, a resident of Pratt, Kansas. I consider myself mostly a self-taught artist. Ever since I was approximately ten years old I have had an interest in drawing animals. The moment I consider my official beginning to drawing the beautiful creatures God has created was while sitting in a church pew one Sunday morning. I had some scrap paper from the youth lesson and I found a pencil. It was then that I started drawing the quite embarrassing little horse with legs that were twisted all goofy. This was my first major step. I had officially drawn something other than an inflated stick horse with a bubble head. I was shy back then and kept my little horse a secret.

Winning ribbons after entering into both the Pratt County and Kansas State fairs later encouraged and resolved me to keep drawing and creating. A handful of years into drawing I made a change that would set me down a road of exciting realism in my artwork; I started using photos. Up to that point, I had drawn everything from my head.

Studying one section at a time, I drew what I saw in the photographs using pencils and other mediums. It was exciting to see what I could do. Even though my work was far from it, I put a goal into place; I wanted to draw photorealistic.

Later I discovered something else that would change my perspective. It was the use of color. I started putting blue in my pastel chalk drawings where most wouldn’t expect it. It was used as the shadow to my whites. I reasoned that it was what I was really seeing in the photographs. Whenever I had free time and inspiration, I spread out my art supplies and got to work. I carry paper and pencil almost everywhere I go. Though I’m not sure I want to make it my main career, I have taken on commissions for drawing other’s pets. My favorite commissioned photos to draw from include a twinkle of light in each of a pet’s eyes.

My love for animals carries not only in my drawings and paintings, but also in my love for my pets, past and present: Cutie, Brody, Mandy, Daisy and Biscuit.

I thank God for creating us in his image, for without that, I am sure I could not be an artist myself. I also thank him for giving us animals to love and care for which are my greatest artistic inspiration. I am not certain as to where he is leading yet for my future. I hope that you enjoy my work and are inspired in some way. In the meantime, I will keep drawing and would encourage all to pick up that pencil and get started. You never know where it might lead you!

Do you want a custom commission of your own pet? Head over to the Custom Pet Portraits tab!